Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Yesterday, I had my appointment with my oncologist and began the next cycle of chemotherapy. The first thing on my mind to ask him was about the elevation of the lambda light chain on the last blood work. He reminded me that what we really need to look at is both the kappa light chain number and the lambda light chain number and the ratio between the two.My ratio had stayed the same and that was a good thing. It would have been more alarming if there was a change in the ratio. So, for now, we are going to watch those numbers carefully and continue on with my chemo regimen.

One thing I love about my doctor is his great sense of humor. I have always felt it was a bonus to have an excellent oncologist who also has a sense of humor. I see him every three weeks and at each appointment, we laugh. Maybe some cancer patients wouldn't like this, but I do. Yesterday was no exception. I asked him what we will do if the lambda light chain goes up and the ratio indicates a problem. His quick response was, "I'll stop testing for it!" In all seriousness, my doctor said that if that happens, we will probably change my chemotherapy plan. Brent and I laughed so hard at his first response and, as we know, laughter is good for the soul.

"What does all this have to do with the charming words of Piglet and Pooh?" you might ask. Well, to me this quote is one of the simplest and purest expressions of the idea that we should enjoy and cherish each day we are given. When you have been told that the disease you have cannot be cured, it is a natural progression to spend a lot of time thinking and even philosophizing about life and death and I have had nearly four years to do just that. Talking to my doctor and being reassured and laughing hard reminded me that each today can be my favorite day. Even on a difficult day, when I am not feeling well and find it challenging to control the anxiety that living with cancer can bring, it can be a favorite day. . . I am still here.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

It seems like I have been on hiatus since my last post was written over two months ago on August 15. Since I began this blog, I have posted every month until now and I am not sure why it has taken me so long to write a new post. Could it be writer's block? Sometimes I think it is but maybe not.

Over the last 5 1/2 months my multiple myeloma oddysey has been one of chemo twice a week for two weeks and then a week off. I see my doctor and start all over again. Nothing too interesting to report there, just the usual fatigue and what I call a toxic feeling that usually includes a headache. On the days after chemo, the steroid drip that I am given before Velcade, gives me a boost and I can almost always count on feeling pretty well those days and often the next day after. As you can see, nothing terribly interesting or exciting has been happening since I last wrote. Until last week.To my great disappointment, my lambda light chain went up instead of down. The time before it had gone down only four points and that was unsettling because it seemed to me it was an indicator that Velcade was losing its effectiveness against the myeloma cells. So, when the number actually went up last time, it was upsetting. Actually, it was scary. I haven't talked to my oncologist about this latest result, but I will see him on October 29. At my last appointment, I talked to him about the possibility that Velcade was losing its mo-jo but he said it is too early to tell. He assured me we still have a lot of options including my 5 million stem cells in cold storage. Since the initial shock of reading that elevated number in my online medical chart, I have calmed down a bit. I know that there can be blips in blood work. My WBC is a perfect example. It is up and down like a proverbial yo-yo from one week to the next. I hope that is the case with the lambda light chain since it is the main cancer marker that they track for me.Three years ago, on October 19, I began the stem cell transplant process. We drove back and forth to Seattle each day for new rounds of screenings and tests. This included full body x-rays, heart scans, breathing tests, blood work and more blood work, a dental exam, a mammogram, just to name a few. It also included a couple of scares along the way: the surprising diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and the need for a breast biopsy. To my relief, the biopsy turned out all right. I had two emotional meltdowns during this time. First, when I got the call that I needed a breast biopsy and second, the day they placed the Hickman line. That Hickman line made the whole ordeal so real and the thought of those two lines hanging out of my chest for the next two months was more than I could take on that day. But, I got through it. On November 14, I checked into the University of Washington Medical Center and the real journey began with 24 hour round the clock chemotherapy that went on over five days. After that, we lived in Seattle for two months to be near the clinic as I continued the arduous process. It is hard to believe it was three years ago.

Jack-o-Lantern

I'm not afraid

There is no need.

He's but a grown up

Pumpkin seed.

In October of 2009 my home was in full Halloween regalia. Oh, how I loved collecting Halloween things and decorating our home at the beginning of each October. Sadly, all that Halloween fun has been boxed up and stored in the garage until now. After I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in January of 2010, I didn't feel up to the task of decorating and undecorating for Halloween for the last three years. Even though I haven't been feeling great the past few months, for some reason I felt compelled to get those boxes out of storage this year. My house is not in "full" regalia but I have put out some of my favorite things and it looks like Halloween in here again. It has buoyed my spirits (no pun intended) and it has felt wonderful to get creative and be back doing what I love to do...decorate.

About Me

My name is Carole Leigh Ingram. I am married with two grown children and three cats. I am a retired first grade teacher and I am a cancer survivor. In January of 2010, I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer, and I began a long journey to remission. I didn't start journaling until October of 2010 because I just wasn't ready to put my thoughts and feelings into words. Now I feel I am able to share this record of my "compelled" journey to "clarity" about my new life. This blog starts at the beginning of my journal. My journal is still a work in progress as I pursue clarity and I will continue to update it. . .My New Reality is a lifelong journey.